Pressing Into a Higher Level

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We had a remarkable day yesterday (7/24/2005). Sunday concluded the Biblical Exhortation Masters Conference. Dianne McIntosh was present from Grace Ministries; Steve Ross from Indiana; Mike Clardy from Alabama. The Spirit of the Lord was wonderfully present. The theme throughout the day was the challenge to move with Christ to a higher level.

Mike Clardy, while he was ministering in the transition prayer, reported that he saw several large angels with swords. The angels were looking carefully at the banners as they were being carried up the aisle. Mike asked the angels who they are. They answered, "Guardians of the Glory."

The angels were not looking at the pastors or the congregation. They were staring at the banners. This tells me they were not assigned to any of us, only to guard that which is honouring the Lamb.

This reminds us of the answer given to Joshua when he queried the man with the sword in his hand: "Are you for us or for our enemies."

"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come."

We would expect the commander to say, "I am on your side."

But like our angels from yesterday, the commander of the army of the Lord let Joshua know the warrior angels are present to glorify and protect Christ, not the believers, except as Christ directs.

There is a lack of sympathy and camaraderie between us and the angels because they are not of our race. However they do rejoice when a child of God repents; and they serve as ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation.

Steve Ross from Indiana told us of the three aspects of our existence that we must value and develop if we would move to a higher plane. They are "who we are"; "where we are"; and "what we are."

Sometimes we are so anxious to move to what we believe is a superior state that we do not value the present. Yet, if we do not make a success of who, where, and what we are today, we will not be entrusted with a greater area of service.

Dianne McIntosh finished up in the evening service with an emphasis on young people as well as adults, speaking about how anger turns to murder. Sometimes we murder other people with our hatred. Sometimes we murder ourselves in an act of suicide.

There is no doubt that we absolutely must get rid of our anger, for it is a spirit of murder.

We would not believe that young people in our church would have suicidal thoughts; yet it appears that in some cases this is a fact. Therefore we adults have to set an example for them by dealing with our anger promptly, if necessary confessing and repenting of it. Otherwise we may lead our children and young people into destructive behaviour.

All in all it was a tremendously uplifting day. My personal opinion is that Christ is dealing with our assembly, telling us to bring to Him a larger vessel that He may fill it with more of Himself than we have experienced to the present hour.